When London Burned

lled his promise by taking Cyril to the house of one of the men with whom he did business, and arranging with him to board the boy until word came that he could safely ret

ts, which were made direct by Marner, and he had only to h

or an affair in which you had taken part; but it matters not what he thinks. I have paid him for a month's board for you, and here are three pounds, which will be enough to pay for your passage back if I myself should not return. If you do not hear from me, or see th

reet, so that I may see you and again thank you; I know that the Captain himself will welcome you heartily when I tell him how kindly you

kidnapped. They might write over here to the Dutch authorities about you. There is one thing further. From

d, "but I do not rightly understand the cau

d our ships for the most part laid up, they may be able to take their revenge for the lickings we have given them. Should there be war, as you say you speak French

ed there all my life. I should have no difficult

well as Dutch Schiedam, and if I cannot get the one I may perhaps get the other; and there is less danger in coming to Dunkirk and making across to H

tting your boat captured?

e we got to Ipswich. I have been overhauled a good many times, but the cargo always looks right, and after searching it for a bit, they conclude it is all regular. You see, I do

d Cyril had remained on board until the last moment. He had seen the diamond dealer but once, and hoped that he should not meet him often, for he felt certain that awkward questions would be asked him. This man was in the habit of having dealings with Marner, and had doubtless und

no possibility of conversation. Cyril was thinking of going up to his bed when there was a ring at the bell. The clerk went to answer it,

nderstand English, R

gland, you understand-who have only just arrived, want to see him on particular busines

and the clerk, seeing that there w

Dick. He remembered the expression of hatred with which they had regarded him in the Court, and felt that his danger would be great indeed did they hear that he was in Rotterdam. A moment's thought convinced him that they would almost certainly learn this at once from his host. The letter would naturally mention that the captain had left a lad in his charge who was, as he believed, connected with them. They would denounce him as an ene

alk," he said, wavi

rd him put up the bar after he had gone out. He walked q

matters. It might be a quarter of an hour before they heard that he was an inmate of the house; then, when they went downstairs with the dealer, the

ats were landing fish, and larger craft were discharging or taking in cargo; but his inability to speak Dutch prevented his asking questions. He crossed to the other side of the road. The houses h

lord?" he asked, as the

tter n

ll therefore be of no use my going on to Amsterdam. I wish to get back again, for I am told that if I delay I may be too late. I cannot speak Dutch, and therefore cannot inquire if

you like he can go along the port with you. Of co

, "and be much obliged

and returned in a minute w

d him that you want to take ship to England, or that, if you cannot find one, to Dunkirk. If that will not do

though I should

her you will do so now. They have been clearing off for some days, and I doubt if you will find an E

However, Cyril told his guide that he would prefer one for Dunkirk if they could find one, for if war were declared bef

"but if you are not in a hurry, he will take you and land you at Dunkirk for a pound-that is, if

getting food. As he will be going so early, I will come on board

ght a rough coat and a thick blanket, had them wrapped up i

son for choosing this craft in preference to the English ship was that he thought it probable that, when he did not return to the house, it would at once be suspected that he had recognised the visitors, and was not goi

run that risk, he would have started on foot had he not been able to find a native craft sailing early in the morning. Failing Dunkirk and Ostend, he

o their berths, and all was quiet. At daybreak they were called up by the captain. Cyril lay quiet until, by the rippling of the water against the side, he knew that the craft was u

g a few hours in each place to take in or discharge cargo. After this, they made out from the Islands, and ran

r way again. The food was rough, but wholesome; it consisted entirely of fish and black bread; but the sea air gave him a good appetite, and he was in high spirits at the thought that he had escaped from danger and was on his way back again. At Dunkirk he was under the French flag, and half an hour after landing had engaged a pas

the afternoon and so dark that his attire would not be noticed. His clothes had suffered considerably from his capture and confinement on board the Eliza, and his great-coat was of a rough appearance that w

ght, and I ain't going to open for anyone. At half-past seve

l laughed. The old sailor stepp

in this dim light and in that big coat you have got on. Come upstairs, master. Captain Dave and

d hung it on a peg, and th

e door of the sitting-room. "There is a sight for sore

hter stared at Cyril as if scarce believing t

you alive again; we made sure that those pirates had knocked you on the head, and that you were food for fishes by this time. There h

hould, as you say, have been food for fishes before now, for that is what they meant me for, and there is no

he first place you saved us from being ruined by those pirates, and that it was, a

ere sure, for we knew that you would not go away of a sudden, in this fashion, without so much as saying goodbye. We feared all the more when, two days afterwards, the wretche

r aught I know, last an hour. Let him have his food, lass, and then I will light my pipe, and John Wilkes shall light his here instead of going out for it, and

been all your life having adventures of some sort, this is the very first that I have had; for though Cyril i

trial come off,

n down. But this ingenuity did not save him. Tom Frost had been admitted as King's evidence, and testified that Marner had been several times at the gate with the fellow that escaped, to receive the stolen goods. Moreover, there were many articles among those found at his place that I

y prove the men

ere able to swear to them as having been among those who came into their rooms and frightened them well-nigh to death. It wa

has beco

, the boy was not so much to blame, and that I was sure the lesson he had had, would last him for life; so I asked him to give Tom another chance, and if he did so, to keep the knowledge of this affair from everyone. I got his answer yesterday morning, telling me to send him down to him; he would give him a fair trial, and if he wasn't altogether satisfied with him, would the

pes. Then Cyril told his adventure, the earlier part of which elicited many exclamations of pity from Dame Dowsett and Mistress Ne

ed the inmates of lonely houses round London. He had good cause for hating you. It was through you that he had been captured, and had lost his share in all that plunder at Marner's. Well, I trust the villain will never venture to show his face in London again; but there is never any saying. I should like to meet that captain who behaved so well to you, and I will meet him too, and shake him by the hand and tell him that any gear he may want for that ketch of his, he is free to come in here to help himself

tain. He saved my life, and no one could have been kinder than he was. I would rather go aw

d. I see that, even if

, they might find out

, and also the names of

on the day

that when I was let out I found we were far down the river, that the captain expressed great regret when he found that I had been hurt so badly, that he did everything in his power for me, and that after I had been some days on board the ship he offered to land me in Holland, and to give me money to pay my fare back here if I would give him my word of honour not to divulge his

ison you after the service you have done in enabling them to break up this g

the promise of secrecy he had made, there was little chance in the future of desperate men sparing the lives of those who fell into their hands. They would assuredly murder them in self-defence if they knew that the law would force them to break any promise of silence they might have made. The Magistrate, after a consultation with the Chief Constable, finally came round to this view, and permitted Cyri

information you can g

eft Holland, I caught sight of the two persons who h

hands on them. However, I expect they will be back again erelong. Your ill-doer is sure to return here sooner or later, either with the hope of further gain,

d that his business was over and

the Alderman seemed to

uld return to Lond

y again try to do you harm. No doubt other receivers will fill his place in time, but the loss of a ready market must incommode them much. Plate they can melt down themselves, and I reckon they would have but little diff

Nellie, and whenever he was not engaged whe

s used for religious services; the rest was utilised as a sort of public promenade, and here people of all clas

anding among a group who were talking and laughing much louder than was seemly, take off his plumed hat, and make a

was over, when, as he left th

in gay clothes, who

is, if there is no ind

ss which he at once detected. "There was a great press, and I well-nigh fainted, but

ou have seen him

tossed

ht you have to questi

ave received great kindness from him, and I doubt if he would be pleased if he knew that you bowed to a p

e Court, I would have yo

almly. "I cannot say I admire either his companions or his manners, and if he is a gentleman he should know that if he

ation. "Who made you my censor, I should like to know? I will t

. Methinks that, were John Wilkes here in charge of you, he would say the same, only probably he would express his opinion as to yonder gallant more strongly than I do;" he nodd

to answer him passionately, but res

l," she said, after a pause; "he is of a

er to inquire into that, when the gentleman comes forward in due course and presents himself as a suitor. Fine feathers d

reet, and, bowing deeply to Nellie, was abo

that you are a stranger to this lady's family. That being so, and as she i

furiously. "Had I a cane instead of a swor

o down at Whitehall, but if you attempt to make trouble here in Cheap

passers-by paused to see what was the matter, "do not caus

eeply. "I regret that the officiousness of this blundering varlet should

tening scowl at Cyril, pushed his way roughly thr

ale, and trembled

e, Cyril," s

with anger at some jeering remarks he heard from one or two of those who looked on at

have placed me in, wi

ed you in, by his insolence. What would Captain Dave say if he heard t

?" she asked, removing her

reach home, for it may be that among those standing round was someone who is acquainted with both you and yo

d love. Nellie was ambitious. She had been allowed to have her own way by her mother, whose sole companion she had been during her father's absence at sea. She knew that she was remarkably pretty, and saw no reason why she, like many another citizen's daughter, should not make a good match. She had readily gi

tell my father and mother. I can assure you

she would not have asked him to accompany her if

, Mistress Nellie, and trust that you will

ing; but she said no further